Spring Sports Teams Enjoy Early Successes

With an influx of new and returning players this year, the lacrosse team anticipates a successful season following wins in six preseason scrimmages. Led by captains senior Colleen Cusat, juniors Sydney Riepl and Colleen Kelly, freshman Haven Dora and coaches Dana Lenneper and Stephanie Norell, the team has grown significantly in the past year with the addition of ten freshmen.

Junior Colleen K. takes control against Middletown North at Dorbrook Park on March 29. (Photo by Ciara Clifford)

At the first game of season on Mar. 27, the team beat Ocean Township High School 19-2. Kelly scored nine goals and made one assist, Dora scored five goals and made four assists and Riepl scored two goals and made two assists. Sophomore goalie Maggie McCarthy made 10 saves.

In the first week of competition, the team improved its record to 3-0. In the second game, the team beat Middletown North, where Kelly lead the team with five goals and scored her 100th career goal. The team has won praise from the local press and is currently ranked in the Top 5 in the Shore Conference.

Sophomore Valentina Paz hopes the early success will continue for the rest of the season. “This year, with the new freshmen and our strong team, we beat Saint John Vianney by ten points in a scrimmage. Last year, we both lost a game and won a game by one against them. The odds are really looking up for this season,” Paz said.

Golf

Junior Kate P. prepares to take a swing at the Monarchs’ match against Freehold Boro at Charleston Springs South Course in Millstone on April 4. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Pappa)

With new head coach Lauren Pappa at the helm, the golf team has already experienced some early success, finishing in third place at the Monmouth County Tournament on April 9 at Cream Ridge Golf Course where freshman Anna Clements led the Monarchs by shooting an 86 to earn fourth place overall. In regular season play, the Monarchs are off to a 1-2 start with a win over Freehold Boro (219-265) on April 4 and narrow losses to Red Bank Catholic (236-225) and Rumson Fair-Haven (231-224).

With practices on the course along with weekly conditioning sessions, the golfers have undertaken a variety of exercises to improve their level of play and increase their strength as they strive to better themselves both as individuals and as a team.

“We have a ton of girls this year [and] a lot of new faces,” sophomore Caitlin Ramos said. “It doesn’t matter whether we are experienced golfers or just trying new things. We are all having fun and [are] definitely there to have a good time. We have a lot of potential as a team, and I think we’re going to have a great season.”

Crew

The crew team hopes to make strides of improvement this season under the leadership of junior captains Kiley Cizin and Anna O’Neill and coach Jennifer Jamer. Because Trinity Hall is merging with the Ranney School team, the rowers will now be able to get out on the water more. Because of a new training regimen, which utilizes equipment at Christian Brothers Academy, including ergs and rowing tanks, and the merge with the Ranney School, the team also plans to participate in many regattas this season.

“This season, the team is working on building endurance through erg workouts and technique on the tanks. We look forward to getting out on the water and racing in the near future,” Cizin said.

Track

The spring track team began practicing for the coming racing season with the largest team of athletes to date. With a record-breaking number of 59 runners, the team is composed of students from every grade and is led by head coach Tony Avallone and new assistant coaches Charles Rooney and Hilary Billington.

Freshman Grace C. races to the finish in a scrimmage on March 27. (Photo by Mary Kate Cashman)

Under the leadership of senior captains Kelsey O’Kelly and Hannah Reynolds and junior captains Olivia Almeida and Caroline Meany, the team traveled to its first scrimmage of the season on Mar. 27 against Donovan Catholic and Saint Rose.

Besides racing in their first scrimmage, the runners have been doing numerous drills and exercises to improve their endurance and speed.

“After the super successful indoor season, we are really looking forward to this spring season. We have several goals for the season which include improving our field team, breaking more school records, and qualifying for some major meets,” Reynolds said.

Sailing

The sailing team, led by coach Jennifer Jamer, has begun preparing for its racing season and has already participated in regattas. The team races in both the fall and spring sports seasons and has been practicing on the water in preparation for future competitions.

The sailors have been getting on the water and working on many different skills such as steering, lining up and tacking. The team works with an organization called Sailorcise, which provides the sailors with nutritional advice, fitness coaching and basic sailing training. Together, they hope to reach the NJISA qualifiers and then advance to the MASSA Gold Fleet competition.

“We have people who are going to be coming in fresh, so I suspect that it’s going to really positively impact our performance,” Jamer said.

Softball

Junior Bailey P. and sophomore Madison K. strategize at the mound against Monmouth Regional on March 29 at Dorbrook. (Photo by Ciara Clifford)

The softball team, led by head coach Robert O’Brien, assistant coach Andrea Carini, and junior captains Jane Banahan, Patti Frees and Carolyn Litwin, is now in its second season as an official team.

Although the team lost its first three practice games, Banahan hit the first home run in program history during the first scrimmage against Rumson-Fair Haven, and the team has started the regular season with a solid 3-2 record, including two decisive victories over Ranney and a win over St. Rose.

“We’re off to a really great start, and I’m so excited to see how we all evolve both individually and as a team. We are a real family, and I know I can count on every girl on this team to give it [her] all,” Banahan said.